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BITESIZE | How to Make Mistakes Your Superpower | Daniel Pink #386

Sep 21, 2023 17m 2s 16 insights
What do you regret in your life? Are there things you wish you’d done – or not done? Society tells us not to look back and instead to focus on the positive, but could sitting with the discomfort of a regret allow us to grow? Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today's clip is from episode 248 of the podcast with author and expert in human behaviour, Daniel Pink.   Dan asserts that regret is a misunderstood and useful emotion that, when used correctly, can help us lead happier and more fulfilled lives. In this clip, he explains how to make mistakes your superpower. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/248 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Utilize Regret Correctly

Treat regret correctly to lead a happier and more fulfilled life, as it is a useful emotion that helps us if we treat it right.

2. Reject ‘No Regrets’ Philosophy

Do not adopt a ’no regrets’ philosophy, as it is profoundly wrong, unscientific, and an ineffective blueprint for living.

3. Act Boldly, Take Chances

When at a juncture in life, choose to take the chance rather than play it safe, as inaction regrets (things you didn’t do) stick with people more than action regrets.

4. Process Regret, Don’t Ruminate

Neither ignore nor wallow in regrets; instead, think about them to process them effectively and prevent them from capturing you.

5. Clarify Values with Regret

Use persistent regrets as a signal to clarify what you truly value in life, recognizing that they indicate deep-seated personal values.

6. Let Regret Instruct Behavior

Allow regrets to instruct you on how to do better and inform your future behavior, as this is an essential component of healthy living and growth.

7. Practice Daily Solitude

Engage in a daily practice of solitude to improve mental well-being and contentment, allowing you to listen to and process your emotions and regrets.

8. Welcome Mild Discomfort

Welcome mild discomfort rather than avoiding it, as it is essential for growth and progress, and confronting it prevents it from becoming destructive.

9. Start with Self-Compassion

Begin the process of dealing with regrets by treating yourself with kindness and self-compassion, recognizing that missteps are common to all.

10. Write or Talk Regrets

Write down or talk about your regrets to convert abstract emotions into concrete words, making them less fearsome and aiding the sense-making process.

11. Disclose Vulnerabilities

Disclose your vulnerabilities, including regrets, as people often think more, not less, of you when you do so.

12. Extract Lessons from Regrets

After processing regrets with self-compassion and sense-making, actively extract a clear lesson from them to guide future actions.

13. Use Self-Distancing

Employ self-distancing techniques, such as talking to yourself in the third person, to better solve your own problems and extract lessons from regrets.

14. Ask Your Best Friend

When facing a problem or regret, ask yourself what advice you would give your best friend in the same situation, as this helps bypass personal biases.

15. Consult Your Future Self

Consult your future self (e.g., ’the you of 10 years from now’) to gain perspective on current decisions and regrets, predicting what will truly matter long-term.

16. Daily AG1 Consumption

Consume AG1 daily to support digestion and enrich the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria, contributing to overall well-being.